April 9, 2003 Newly emerged blue dasher
dragonfly.
Click on the photo for a full sequence of photos, including what she/he
looked like the next morning.

The dragonfly photo below is a Twelve-spotted Skimmer (click on photo
for enlargement). When I took this
photo, he had just finished mating with a female a few inches away
from my face.
It was quite loud when the dragonflies joined, and then they separated
and the female
placed her abdomen in my little pond several times to lay eggs.

Dragonfly larva are sensitive to pesticides that run off from
gardens and farms, so you can help by learning to garden
for wildlife.
Please also consider purchasing organic cotton clothing and organic
foods,
which are the only ones grown without pesticides.

Four-spotted Pennant perched after eating an insect (click on image
for full size photograph)

Female Four-spotted Pennant eating (click on image for full size)

Halloween Pennant (click on image for enlarged view)

Female Halloween Pennant:
(note: this photo is also now available as a notecard)

Male Blue Dasher (one of our most commonly seen dragonflies)
on Mexican Hat (click on image for full view)